Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Monday, March 22, 2010

What a day!!! After saying a last farewell to Eb - under a tree in the back garden with a new plant of Rue to keep her company - we (S & N) drove to the Good Guys to change the DVD player but came away with two 32 inch LCD TVs (one for S & one for me). Driving back the most frightening storm I have ever been in. Very large hail stones & such heavy rain that we had to stop the car - no vision at all.

Hail bouncing off the windows, the noise was deafening.

Closing down for the day as there is still thunder & lightening around.

My dear little Ebony died this morning. We had a last cuddle on the bed before breakfast.She had a good life of 16 years.I'm off to have another good cry, (after the snake episode I'm feeling somewhat shaky!)

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Friday, March 19, 2010

The Dugite is probably the most common snake seen in this area. Body colours vary from pale sandy, grey/brown to dark black, with dark scales speckled through the skin and a cream underbelly. Young dugites are about 30cm in length when hatched and can grow to reach 2 metres. When hatched the young dugite is a pale olive green colour with a distinctive herringbone pattern and a dark black head.

Dugites are extremely shy and will not confront unless provoked, with young dugites often being ‘strikey’ in self-defence. They can be safely scooped into a bucket and released somewhere safe.

But not by me!!! I called Gary the snake man who really didn't want to come out, he was 25 minutes away & he may not be able to find it plus it would cost me $50. "I don't care - just come!" He told me to close the door of the room it was in & put a towel across the gap. O.K. done that. I didn't know where Ebony was, just hoped she wasn't in the same room. When Gary arrived we turned towards the closed door when the snake made a slither into my bedroom. Luckily there are not many places for it to hide & Gary grabbed it before it went under the bed.

I have only just stopped shaking!! Don't think I could have stayed in the house if he hadn't caught it. Now I need to have a good clean up & hope none of it's brothers or sisters are around.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

I missed putting up a post yesterday - 1st time for over a year. Plotting for a Food Garden took a back seat, Friday the temperature reached 41deg, everything wilted including me!!!Thank goodness it was only 30 on Saturday for the Festival, very humid.

Big crowd, long queues for food, drinks & toilets. I sold 3 calenders & a dozen postcards - no artwork. I bought 3 pots of Cacti & 3 bottles of local Olive Oil so spent more than I made!!!The Band 'The Doo Daddies' were fantastic. Pretty Baby here recorded in 2008

Talking 'bout Books: finished reading 'Falling' by Elizabeth Jane Howard, an unusual novel, which I'm not sure whether I liked! I will have to read more of her writing.Still dipping into & enjoying 'Plenty' (Digressions on Food) by Gay Bilson, not a recipe book but a life story beautifully written on cooking & dining & gardening & life.Began 'The Sound of One Hand Clapping' by Richard Flanagan is about "the underbelly of Australia, the barbarism of Europe, and the destiny of those in the country beyond hope who seek to redeem themselves through love."

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

A couple of years ago Ebony had 'Idiopathic Vestibular Disease'. Last Sunday I thought she was having another attack. She fell over, then staggered into the bathroom, gave one big howl and collapsed on the floor. I didn't think she was going to make it - how do you find a cats pulse? She was limp and her eyes were blank, a few more little groans and then nothing. I stroked her and put my ear to her tummy but could not feel a heart beat, then she lifted up her head and gave a little mew. Ten minutes later she was sitting up, back to normal, wanting her supper, so it couldn't have been IVD. She will be 16 years old this year.

About Me

Welcome to my blog about day to day living on the coast of Western Australia. An eclectic mix of things that make life interesting.
Born Brighton, Sussex UK arrived Western Australia 1969 never turned back.